Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-14
WAS 1T A MURDER9
The Mysterious Death OF Felix
Dubois.

The mysterious Death of Felix
Dubois.
Early yesterday morning the Coro-
ner was notified that the body of a
man had been found in lot on An
derson street, near Also. The Coro-
ner went down there with the dead
wagon, and the remains were found
living in the yard in front of small
house. The body was stetched face
downward, and when rolled over "a
sickening sight was presented to view.
Two ghastly wounds were found on
the face and the head was found
to be swarming with maggots. The
house was entered and it was found
that it was the one in which the mur.
dered man resided, whose name proved
to be Jean Dubois. The place looked
very much like slaughter house for
the floor and all the pieces of furni-
ture in the two rooms of the place
were smeared with blood. Beside the
bedstead was a large pool of blood
about three feet in diameter. About
a foot from it lay pistol of the double
action pattern, which was also covered
with gore and from which a few hairs
were hanging There were four empty
shells in the weapon, and
but one bullet remained unused. The
bed clothing was crimson with blood
and underneath the pillow laid large
carving knife. In the drawer of the
table was another pistol fully loaded.
Bloody foot prints led from the pool
OF blood all the way into the kitchen !;
around that room and back through
the bed room and down the front
step. A foot print made with bare
foot was found some distance from the
house. About 80 feet distance a
quantity of blood was observed on the
grating in front OF Mr.. Curtis pump,
back OF his house. Coroner Meredith
and DIR. MacGown accompanied by a
HERALD reporter revisited the scene
in the afternoon. Considerable time
was spent in examining the house
Thoroughly. 1t was searched from top
to bottom by the Coroner in order to
ascertain, if possible, how the wounds
on the head were inflicted. No traces
were found tending to show that de-
ceased fell against anything, and no
instrument was unearthed with which
it was likely that the bloody deed was
done. The Coroner could not decide
to his satisfaction whether the de-
ceased suicided or was murdered, for
the wounds on the head could not be
accounted for. Several neigh
bers with curious turn of
mind, were present. and lent
all the assistance in their
power to help the Coroner in unravel-
ing the mystery. 1t was known that
Du Bois usually carried considera-
bile amount OF money with him, but
not cent was found either upon the
body or in the house. He owned the
house and lot upon which he lived,
besides about $4,000 worth of other
property in the vicinity. No cause
could be assigned for the deceased
committing suicide. While there a
fellow giving the name OF G. Priest
entered, and appeared to be laboring
under great excitement. He stated
that he lived with Du Bois for month
after he separated from his wife, but
left some weeks ago to go to the
back yesterday morning. He laid
ownership to all the clothes in the
house, together with a trunk belonging
to him. Coroner Meredith told him
to take them, and with smile of sat
isfaction he marched off heavily laden
with his baggage. With look sug-
gestive of deep thought Coroner
Meredith's optics followed him out of
sight, and as he disappeared behind a
fence he said, 81 guess the dead man
didn't live here or he would have left
some Clothes"
THE INQUEST.
Last evening an inquest was held
John Hordes, carpenter, stated thai
yesterday morning when he was or
his way to work Mrs. Curtis said tha
Dubois was lying dead in front OF HI.
house. He went over and found sucf
to be the case.
George r. Curtis testified that ol
Monday evening he was told by Mr.
Blakely that he had gone over to Du
Bois' house to borrow an awl, but tha
Dubois was lying there dead drunk
looked over from my house and say
him, but did not go ever. Next morn
ing saw him there still, and told m.
wife that when Kordes came to worl
tell him to wake him up, as he mus
have been on a terrible tear. Knew
Dubois in st. Louis. He was a con
tractor there, and used the name o
Felix Raeman. He became financial.
embarrassed there and came to Lo
Angeles, and has sinced used the nam'
of Dubois.
DIR. MacGowen testified to having
held an autopsy, and described the ex
tent of the injuries. He said that i
was his opinion that the wounds OF
the head were inflicted with som'
blunt instrument, and that either the
cuts on the Uranium or the gun sho
wound in the ,chest would have beer
sufficient to cause death.
The jury returned verdict that de
ceased came to his death from hem
orrhage following a bullet wound in
fiicted either by himself or by persons
unknown to them.